FIJ
In 2008, when Yemi John (not real name), a Nigerian in the United Kingdom, invested N14million in a four-bedroom detached bungalow in Golden Leaf, a collaborative venture between the British American Tobacco Company Cooperative and Gran Imperio Group, he had two expectations: that his investment would multiply; and that one day, when he finallyn returns to Nigeria, he would have a house to live. But his hope was dashed and for 13 years, he struggled to reclaim his money without success.
John is one of a dozen new victims who were speaking out following FIJ’s report detailing how companies, including Gran Imperio Group and Metropole Interproject Limited owned by Ooni Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi defrauded, to the tune of over a billion naira, hundreds of subscribers to apartments in the Essential Homes Scheme promoted by the monarch. Many of them were allocated apartments in South Pointe Two and Golden Leaf estates that never existed.
Spurred by their links to Ooni Ogunwusi, the companies and their directors ignored court judgments and disregarded out-of-court agreements. For years, law enforcement agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), did not act on complaints by investors.
In calls to five subscribers living in the diaspora who have lost a total of N38,119,500 – who also know at least five other investors who lost a total of N59,785,000 – FIJ gathered that Nigerians living abroad were big targets in the scam. Some subscribers who were afraid of “spiritual attacks” or concerned about their kinship with Ooni Ogunwusi, declined to provide documentary evidence of payment, but agreed to speak under the condition of anonymity.
‘HOW DOES THE OONI SLEEP AT NIGHT?
Aware that the Essential Homes project had crumbled and subscribers’ monies had been mismanaged, Metropole Interproject Limited and Gran Imperio Group stalled the refunding of investors for many months to allow Ogunwusi become the Ooni of Ife. Afterwards the “previously respectful Ogunwusi became daring”, some subscribers told FIJ.
“At some point, I told him that he refused to pay us and was not holding up to his responsibility. You know what he told me? He said: ‘Did I collect any money from you? You can go to any court you like,’” John said.
“As I talk to you now, I feel like crying because this is daylight robbery. I invested £60,000 and I know how much it cost me to get my one pound. Ooni Ogunwusi is using people’s sweat to his advantage; how does he sleep at night?”
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